FN Archimer Export Format PT J TI Impact of oil-based drill mud disposal on benthic foraminiferal assemblages on the continental margin off Angola BT AF JORISSEN, F. J. BICCHI, E. DUCHEMIN, G. DURRIEU, J. GALGANI, Francois CAZES, L. GAULTIER, M. CAMPS, R. AS 1:1,2;2:1,2;3:1,2;4:3;5:4;6:5;7:1,2;8:3; FF 1:;2:;3:;4:;5:PDG-DOP-LER-LERPAC;6:;7:;8:; C1 Univ Angers, Lab Recent & Fossil Bioindicators BIAF, UPRES EA 2644, F-49000 Angers, France. LEBIM, Port Joinville, Ile Yeu, France. TOTAL EP, Dept Environm, F-64018 Pau, France. IFREMER, Ctr Mediterranee, F-83507 La Seyne Sur Mer, France. AJILON Engn, Pau, France. C2 UNIV ANGERS, FRANCE LEBIM, FRANCE TOTAL, FRANCE IFREMER, FRANCE AJILON ENGN, FRANCE SI CORSE SE PDG-DOP-LER-LERPAC IN WOS Ifremer jusqu'en 2018 copubli-france copubli-univ-france IF 1.965 TC 44 UR https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2009/publication-7301.pdf LA English DT Article CR BIOZAIRE 1 ZAIANGO-BIOL2 BO Unknown Thalassa DE ;W Africa;Upper continental slope;Offshore Angola;Drill cuttings;Bio indicators;Benthic foraminifera AB In order to assess the possible environmental impact of oily cuttings discharged during oil exploration activities, we studied the benthic foraminiferal faunas in a five-station, 4-km-long sampling transect around a cuttings disposal site at about 670 m depth offshore Angola (W Africa). where drilling activities started 1.5 years before sampling. Living (Rose Bengal stained) and dead foraminiferal faunas were sampled in March 2006. The faunal patterns mirror the spatial distribution of hydrocarbons, which are dispersed into a southeastern direction. Four different areas can be distinguished on the basis of the investigated faunal parameters (density, diversity and species composition of the living fauna, and comparison with subrecent dead faunas). The fauna at station S31, 300m SE of the oil cuttings disposal site, appears to be clearly impacted: the faunal density and diversity are maximal, but evenness is minimal. Taxa sensitive to organic enrichment, such as Uvigerina peregrina, CancHs auriculus and Cribrostomoides subglobosus, have largely disappeared, whereas the low-oxygen-resistant taxon Chilostomella oolina and opportunistic buliminids and bolivinids attain relatively high densities. At station S32, 500m SE of the disposal site, environmental impact is still perceptible. The faunal density is slightly increased, and U. peregrina, apparently the most sensitive species, is still almost absent. The faunas found at 1 and 1.8km SE of the disposal site are apparently no longer impacted by the drill mud disposal. Faunal density and diversity are low, and the faunal composition is typical for a mesotrophic to eutrophic upper slope environment. Finally, Station S35, 2 km NW of the disposal site, contains an intermediate fauna, where both the low-oxygen-resistant C. oolina and the more sensitive taxa (U peregrina, C. auriculus and C. subglobosus) are present. All taxa live close to the sediment-water interface here, indicating a reduced oxygen penetration into the sediment. Since the hydrocarbon concentration is low at this station, it appears that the faunal characteristics are the consequence of a slightly different environmental setting, and not due to a contamination with drill cuttings. Our data underline the large potential of benthic foraminifera as bio-inclicators of anthropogenic enrichment in open marine settings, such as caused by the disposal of oily drill cuttings. The foraminiferal faunas react essentially by a density increase of a number of tolerant and/or opportunistic taxa, and a progressive disappearance of more sensitive taxa in the most impacted area. Rather surprisingly, large-sized taxa appear to be more sensitive than small-sized foraminiferal taxa. PY 2009 PD NOV SO Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography SN 0967-0645 PU Elsevier VL 56 IS 23 UT 000272366000011 BP 2270 EP 2291 DI 10.1016/j.dsr2.2009.04.009 ID 7301 ER EF